[NPC] | [console] video;

[ironrule]

[Around about lunchtime on the first of January, every console in Keeliai beeps with a city-wide announcement. While the announcement initially plays without prompting, it can be replayed and re-accessed at any time, ensuring that not a single citizen or Foreigner misses it.

It's Tu Yunxu, broadcasting from inside his study at the Snakes' mansion. He looks as immaculate as ever, dressed in a silken suit with gold thread used liberally throughout.]

It's come to my attention that several people have managed to extract considerable quantities of salt from this oppressive fog. I'm offering a bounty to anyone who chooses to turn their salt over to the Snakes. Prices are negotiable. You will, of course, not be punished for choosing not to take me up on my offer - I am by no means instituting a salt tax. The salt doesn't appear to be dangerous, although I wouldn't recommend ingesting it.

This offer is open to Foreigners as well. I'm sure some of you have been... experimenting.

Thank you.

[And the announcement ends.]

Comments

[ironrule]

[There's an amused eyebrow lift after the first sentence.

And then a smile after the second.

Make of that what you will.]

[looksfine]

[Verification.]

[That was what she chose to make of it.]

[Though her own reaction did not change. Not a single twitch of the lips, nor furrow of her brow. She remained expressively neutral as she waited, with full patience, to see if and what he would do or say in response to the accusation.]

[ironrule]

[For a moment or two, Yunxu's reaction doesn't change either. When it becomes clear she means it as an accusation, however, and not just needling for more information, he rests his chin in one of his hands.]

Couldn't I be gathering the salt for someone else? We are, for example, about to make landfall, if you and your friends manage to beach Tu Vishan. Perhaps I have allies there. Perhaps I'm planning to use the salt to cause deliberate harm to someone on the mainland. Perhaps I'm simply paranoid.

[looksfine]

[All perfectly logical suggestions.]

[Aya was even tempted to believe them. Except...this whole issue with the salt was a tad too personal for her to think with 100% objectivity on the subject.]

Do you have evidence that the salt would work on this alleged enemy?

[Alleged. Yeah, she was still suspicious.]

[ironrule]

If I did, I'd hardly be making it public, would I?

[He's still smiling. To some, it would almost be getting creepy.]

Does it matter to you? I've already assured Lady Valdis the Foreigners are safe from me.

[looksfine]

It matters to me because you are seeking mass quantities of a substances that has proven to cause me a great deal of harm.

[So not even close to objective.]

Though I realize I lack sufficient power to stop you, and despite your insistence, I will neither aid you in this endeavor, nor will I recommend for any of my current acquaintances to do so.

[Even biotechnical robots seemed to have a self-preservation instinct, it seemed, given every neuron fired from her central processing unit was very against letting anyone--let alone Yunxu--gain that much access to the salt.]

[ironrule]

[Yunxu sighs. It's not impatience, or even exasperation - just a polite expression of sadness.]

I thought I'd made it clear these last few months that, while I may not directly aid you or your friends, I'm willing to extend enough trust to leave you alone. Why that trust can't be reciprocated, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. I am seeking mass quantities of a harmful substance, as you put it, for my own reasons and my own use, none of which have anything to do with you.

You're well within your rights to decline my offer. As I said, I'm not instituting a salt tax. You're free to do as you please.

[looksfine]

I am not concerned of a tax. And my reasoning is not personal.

[Well, not towards him.]

What you are asking..what you are suggesting...I would both deny aid and continue to dissuade the notion regardless of who made the suggestion. It is...unsettling to think of any one major source of such a substance, regardless of who is wielding it and how trustworthy they may or may not be.

[ironrule]

I'm relieved to hear you would treat anyone collecting the extracted salt as a potential enemy, I must say.

[Which is funny, because he doesn't really sound relieved.]

Is there anything else I can help you with?

[looksfine]

Disagreeing with what you are doing does not making you an enemy.

[Not automatically.]

However, unless you are willing to admit there is reason to cease in your attempts to collect larger amounts of salt than necessary for reasonable experiments and failsafe reserves...then, no, there is nothing else you can do to help me at this time.

[ironrule]

I'm absolutely willing to admit there's reason for me to leave the salt alone. If you're expecting that to change my mind, however, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you.

[looksfine]

...acknowledged.

[A willingness to admit reason was one step in the right direction. However, since he continued to insist...then she would simply have to live with that disappointment.]